Method and system for using a database and GPS position data to generate bearing data

• US 7,428,450 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2004
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: Garmin International, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Inventors: Oberg, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US10/818,900
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• Field of Search: 701/4, 701/200, 701/206, 701213-215, 701/8, 701/120, 701/208, 342/359, 342/386, 342/442, 342/463, 244/75.1, 244/181, 244/183, 244/185
• US Class Current: 701/4
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/15 Aircraft landing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning

Abstract

A method and system for providing a bearing from a vehicle to a transmitting station are described. The method includes accessing a database to obtain transmitter position information for the transmitter, obtaining vehicle position information based on a GPS signal, and generating the bearing from the vehicle to the station utilizing the transmitter position information and the vehicle position information. The system includes a database storing transmitter position information identifying a position of the transmitter, a GPS receiver obtaining vehicle position information identifying a current position of the vehicle based on a GPS signal, and a controller generating a bearing from the vehicle to the transmitter utilizing the transmitter position information and the vehicle position information.

Claims

1. A system for providing a bearing signifying a deviation of a vehicle from a desired course, the system comprising:

a database storing transmitter position information identifying a position of a transmitter transmitting bearing signals to the vehicle;

a GPS receiver obtaining vehicle position information identifying a current position of the vehicle based on a GPS signal; and

a controller generating a bearing from the vehicle to the transmitter utilizing the transmitter position information and the vehicle position information,

wherein said controller is further configured to;

identify when the vehicle is in a VOR cone of confusion extending from the transmitter based on the transmitter position information and vehicle position information; and

calculate an estimated deviation representing a deviation from a desired course to the transmitter using the bearing from the vehicle to the transmitter.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the transmitting station is a glide slope transmitter, and wherein said controller is further configured to:

calculate a deviation from a desired path to the glide slope transmitter using the vehicle position information; and

use the deviation to calculate a bearing to a capture point for the signals transmitted from the glide slope transmitter.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein said controller is further configured to:

determine a distance to the transmitter; and

calculate a deviation from a desired course to the transmitter using the distance and the bearing from the vehicle to the transmitter.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein said controller is further configured to:

determine a distance to the transmitter;

calculate a deviation from a desired course to the transmitter using the distance and the bearing from the vehicle to the transmitter; and

utilize the calculated deviation in connection with control of the vehicle when the signals from the transmitting station are of insufficient strength to be captured by a signal receiver.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein to generate the bearing to the transmitter said controller is further configured to:

determine vehicle latitude and longitude from the vehicle position information and transmitter latitude and longitude from the vehicle position information; and

calculate a bearing to the transmitting station from the differences between the vehicle and transmitter latitudes and longitudes.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein said controller is further configured to:

identify when the vehicle is in a VOR cone of confusion extending from the transmitting station based on the transmitter position information and vehicle position information;

calculate an estimated deviation representing a deviation from a desired course to the transmitting station using the bearing from the vehicle to the transmitting station; and

initiate a flight director roll command based on the estimated deviation.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the transmitting station is a localizer transmitter, and wherein said controller is further configured to:

calculate a deviation from a desired path to the localizer transmitter using the vehicle position information; and

use the deviation to calculate a bearing to a capture point for the signals transmitted from the localizer transmitter.